River Safety
Rivers are natural wonders. Not only do they give us water to drink, swim in, travel on and fish from, they play a crucial role in supporting wildlife
and ecosystems.
But rivers can also be dangerous. Risks include deep, fast flowing or polluted water, steep and slippery banks and floating mats of vegetation.
So if you’re responsible for a stretch of river, it’s vital to make sure it’s as safe as necessary for anyone who’s in, on or near it.
What's the advice?
Report any issues to the Environment Agency.
As someone with responsibility for a stretch of river, you’ll need to call the Environment Agency Incident Hotline to report:
- Flooding
- Blockages which could cause flooding to main rivers
- Pollution
- Unusual changes in the flow of water
- Collapsed or badly damaged banks
In Scotland: report to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
In Wales: report to Natural Resources Wales
In Northern Ireland: report to the Environmental Protection Agency
Tips on River Safety
Let water flow naturally
Fallen trees, overhanging branches and other blockages in and on your river can cause water flow problems. The same is true of trees and shrubs on the bank. For example, they can get in the way of a public right of navigation, reduce the water flow or cause flooding to other landowners’ property. It’s your responsibility to prevent these problems by removing the obstacle. If you don’t and problems arise, you may have to pay damages.
However, you should leave all other trees, branches and shrubs well alone. They play a vital role in preventing flooding by varying the shape and flow of the channel and by reducing erosion.
Be sure to keep rubbish screens, weirs, mill gates or other structures clear of debris.
Take care when managing flood risk
You have the right to protect your property from flooding and erosion. But make sure that you get permission to build anything in or around the water. Don’t build anything that could divert water and risk flooding other people’s properties (again, you may have to pay damages if this happens).
You might have something on your land, like a wall, that is important to prevent flooding. It could be listed as a flood
defence asset.
You must ask for permission before you:
Change, remove or build any flood defence on your land
Do any work within eight metres of a flood defence, or within 16 metres of a tidal flood defence
If you have a flood defence on your land, it's a good idea to check with your local authority to find out if you're responsible for maintaining it.
Provide appropriate signage
If your stretch of river isn’t safe or suitable for recreational purposes, you must provide a sign that raises awareness of this and instructs people not to use the water. You should also provide signage displaying information about strong currents, deep water, obstructions and any other hazards.
Take care of yourself and your employees too
Don’t forget that any risk assessments or audits near water can put you at serious risk of injury or drowning. Never enter the water to make your observations.
In an emergency
Call 999
Read more
Risk assessment training
Gain an in-depth understanding of risk assessments, their importance and how to effectively perform them.
Water safety signs
Find out about the three main types of water safety signs when you are around water.